This article presents the results of a study on the current situation of waste management in Russia, based on expert interview data from various categories of stakeholders in the period from 2014 to 2017. The problems of legal eco-modernization and economic, environmental, technological, social and cultural aspects are discussed. The dynamics of development in recent years can be described as positive, but there are many unresolved issues in each of the areas. In the right part of the management there is no necessary clarity in the functional distribution of the responsibilities of the responsible parties to which the economic base must be tied. There is no chain of stakeholders that repeats the concept of a no-waste economy, and there are no solutions in the field of social policy. The strength of the Russian management system can be identified in potential technical capabilities, and the willingness of the non-profit and private sector to take the most decisive position in waste management.